Context

We worked closely with a research center in order to find how prospective technologies and design could help them. The product that came out of our collaboration focuses on enhancing the research workflow and assisting the scientists with their experiments.

The video prototype summing up our project

1

Field research

Visiting the laboratory

When starting the project, we had no idea about the needs of our users. We didn't even know who they were, what was their job, or what did their work environment look like. As I was in charge of defining the product and the user experience, I wanted to spend as much time as possible immersing myself in their world.

Observing the users on site

I first visited the medical research laboratory in its whole and met the team. I spent some time with those researchers, observing their daily routine, trying to analyze their methods and taking notes.

Visiting the medical researchers and documenting their processes

Defining their needs

After observing the researchers at work extensively and talking with them, I took some time apart with the head of the team in order to discuss my notes together and hear from his experience and insights.

Focus on the experiment workflow

The most interesting piece that came out of our discussion could be summed up like this: The technologies available to the researchers are more accurate and powerful than they have ever been, however, these evolutions do not necessarily improve the experimentation workflow as a whole.

One step in a complex experiment workflow

« How could prospective technologies help medical researchers in their work? »

Using an AR bench to improve experiment workflow

Breaking down a complete workflow

In order to start working on how we could improve the experiment workflow, I first had to breakdown a current one into comprehensible steps.

When the two samples (A) and (B) are ready, which means the composition has been checked and the right temperature has been reached, the scientist can mix them into a new sample, let's call it (C), that he lets grow.

1

Mixing samples

The researcher puts one sample (A) into the other (B), and mixes them into a new sample (C).

2

Setting up heater

He then prepares the heater machine again, by selecting the temperature and the weight.

3

Heating new sample

He finally places the new sample (C) on the machine to get it to the right temperature and he lets it grow.

After mixing the sample (C) with the solution (X) and the same sample (C) with the solution (Y), they can now be compared by taking microscopic pictures of them and analyzing the results. Those new samples can be called (CX) and (CY).

1

Photograph both samples

The researcher has to take microscopic pictures on the microscope of both samples (CX) and (CY).

2

Uploading to computer

The pictures must be uploaded to a computer where the scientist can work on them.

3

Colorizing pictures

In order to compare the results, both pictures must be colorized using two different colors.

4

Superimposing pictures

After colorizing them, the pictures must be superimposed.

5

Comparing results

From the pictures colorized and superimposed, the researcher can now compare the results.

2

Conceiving a product

Design principles

In order to stay on track during this prospective project, we first laid down the design principles that would guide us.

1. Everything in one place

We tried minimizing the movement of the researchers by gathering most functions in one place, instead of having to roam around the lab rooms to use scattered devices.

2. Intuitive interactions

Medical researchers aren't necessarily very proficient with new technologies. Actually, they are mainly used to analog controls. This is why we focused on building intuitive interactions and always kept those analog controls in mind as an inspiration.

3. Limiting human input

We tried automating as much tasks as possible, limiting any human input to where it is the most useful.

Defining the technologies

We worked on defining the technologies that could be useful to enhance the workflow and that would also have their place in medical research labs. We kept in mind that the chosen techs didn't have to be available right now as we were talking about prospective technologies.

A laboratory bench is a pretty plain surface (some would even qualify it as "dull"). By using augmented reality we could project relevant information on its white surface, turning it into a meaningful medium. In terms of hardware, an AR head-mounted display or AR contact lenses could be used, depending on how prospective the project would be.

With the rise of artificial intelligence and image recognition, microscopes will certainly be set to perform autonomous tasks in a close future

Our prospective product

I regularly presented our advancement to the head of the research team, which allowed us to iteratively challenge and enhance our work. Our goal was to define the product features that would improve medical research workflows.

1. Evolutive interfaces

We focused on conceiving an user interface that would flawlessly evolve according to the subsequent stages of the experiment, stating clearly the protocol details needed at any time. The interface also adapts to the environment it is displayed on.

An example of the interface flow

2. Hand drawn heating zones

Simple tactile controls allow for very intuitive interactions. Drawing a zone with the finger to locally activate the heating is one of them.

A researcher drawing a heating zone

3. Analog-fashioned tactile controls

Settings can be set thanks to analog-fashioned tactile controls. Their "old-school" imagery helps researchers that aren't proficient with new technologies to interact with them.

Setting up the microscope before taking a picture

4. Autonomous microscopic identification

Thanks to electron microscopy, the bench can autonomously identify the nature of a sample, and display it as readable information for the researcher.

Identifying and displaying the nature of a sample

5. Autonomous microscopic checking

The bench can also check samples on a strip to ensure their condition is good.

Checking the condition of a sample on a strip

6. Taking pictures and manipulating them

After taking a picture with the microscopy technology incorporated inside the bench, the researcher can manipulate the image directly on the benchtop, instead of having to upload it on a computer and use a picture software.

Taking a picture of the sample and enlarging it

7. Smart picture comparison

When two or more pictures have been taken, the researcher can superimpose them and compare them with the intuitive interaction provided for that purpose. Again, without this function the scientist would have to use computer softwares to superimpose the pictures and compare them.

Superimposing pictures and comparing them

3

Video prototyping

Communicating our work through a video

After conceiving our product features in collaboration with the medical research lab, we created a video which would communicate our work to the layman. This was also the opportunity to say goodbye to the team for the last time while shooting videos in the lab.

Producing the movie clip

During this phase, I worked with Maxime Bénéteau who, besides having a lot more experience than me shooting short videos, is a very talented amateur filmmaker. Together with him, we built the storyboard that would follow a real protocol. In terms of interface production, Maxime designed the information cards along with their different states and behaviours, and I designed the visual effects and interactions.

Sketching a storyboard for our video

Sharing the workload

Here is roughly how we split the workload between the two of us. I was in charge of the concept design and UX while Maxime mainly worked on video prototype.

Quentin

Concept and UX + video prototyping

After working on the concept design as well as on the UX with the medical research team, I produced the visual effects for the video on Adobe After Effects.

Adobe Illustratror is very useful when working with After Effects because the workflow between the two of them is optimized. Thus being a better choice than Sketch in this case.

One of the interfaces that Maxime designed in Adobe Illustrator

Camera shooting

Thanks to his filmmaking experience and skills, Maxime took in charge the camera shooting. He used a digital photo camera and a tripod to capture a steady and high-quality image. We regretted not having a better camera at our disposal though.

A medical researcher getting ready to carry out a protocol

The video prototype

From this final phase we came out with a 2 minutes video that sums up the project through a defined protocol, emphasizing the different product features that we built along with the medical research team.